A picture a wafer from Intel's foundry that was fabricated on the 14nm process.

Intel is said to launch their 8th generation Cannonlake processors in late 2017. A report from Digitimes has alleged that Intel has scheduled the launch of their Cannonlake processors and 300-Series motherboards in late-2017.

Intel’s Cannonlake CPU lineup would replace the upcoming Kaby Lake processors which are going to launch at CES 2017. The new processors are based on a new process technology and would feature additional CPU and GPU architecture enhancements for improved performance. Digitimes has revealed that 300-series products will be available in late 2017 which would allow support for the 8th generation desktop processors.

Intel reportedly is planning to add USB 3.1 and Wi-Fi functions into its motherboard chipsets and the new design may be implemented in its upcoming 300-series scheduled to be released at the end of 2017, according to sources from motherboard makers. Intel declined to comment on market speculation. via Digitimes

Some of the key features that would be added to the new 300-series motherboards is native USB 3.1 and WiFi functionalities. This would allow Intel to not rely on third party manufacturers for WiFi and USB 3.1 controllers. This would affect many companies such as Broadcom, Realtek and ASMedia who either supply WLAN or USB – 3.1 chips.

But at the same time, it would allow Intel to increase and standardize the new technologies on their platforms. Intel 200-series motherboards would be out in January so we will have to wait at least 10-12 months before we get to see 300-series products in the market. It is not known whether they would change the socket with 300-series but since it’s a die shrink of Skylake, it may be kept compatible with current LGA 1151 socket.

Intel Cannonlake CPUs Rumored For 2017 Launch – Here are The Expected Features and Details

Intel Cannonlake CPUs will be based on a new 10nm process node which would improve power efficiency. The new process would allow faster clocks under the same power envelope but we expect to see a bit more from Cannonlake CPUs. Although Cannonlake may be considered as a die shrink of Skylake or Kaby Lake which have the same basic architecture hierarchy, Cannonlake would be a bit different.

We expect to see some sort of CPU and GPU architecture enhancements that would lead to IPC gains. We can consider this the same jump as we saw from Sandy Bridge to Ivy Bridge. Moving on, the Cannonlake CPUs will be compatible with DDR4-2400 MHz (native).

Kaby Lake, the code name for a new microprocessor due to begin production late this year using Intel’s current 14-nanometer technology.

Cannon Lake, Intel’s first 10nm microprocessor, due late in 2017.

Ice Lake, the second generation of 10nm technology

While Cannonlake is said to launch in 2017, we aren’t exactly sure whether Intel would be naming the family as Coffee Lake or Cannonlake. Coffee Lake is the name of the family that will feature the 14nm process node but would be architecturally similar to Cannonlake chips. The true Cannonlake chips which are not internally known as Coffee Lake are based on 10nm process node and the new enhancements.

A previous leak revealed that Cannon Lake-S chips (desktop) would be part of the Coffee Lake family. So they might not be based on 10nm process, but rather 14nm.

Intel CPU Generation Comparison:

Intel Sandy Bridge Platform

Intel Ivy Bridge Platform

Intel Haswell Platform

Intel Broadwell Platform

Intel Skylake Platform

Intel Kaby Lake Platform

Intel Coffee Lake Platform

Intel Ice Lake Platform

Processor Architecture

Sandy Bridge

Ivy Bridge

Haswell

Broadwell

Skylake

Kaby Lake

Coffee Lake

Ice Lake?

Processor Process

32nm

22nm

22nm

14nm

14nm

14nm

14nm

10nm

Processors Cores (Max)

4

4

4

4

4

4

6/8?

8?

Platform Chipset

6-Series “Cougar Point”

7-Series “Panther Point”

8-Series “Lynx Point”

9-Series “Wild Cat Point”

100-Series “Sunrise Point”

200-Series “Union Point”

300-Series

300-Series

Platform Socket

LGA 1155

LGA 1155

LGA 1150

LGA 1150

LGA 1151

LGA 1151

LGA 1151

LGA 1151?

Memory Support

DDR3

DDR3

DDR3

DDR3

DDR4/DDR3L

DDR4/DDR3L

DDR4

DDR4

TDPs

35-95W

35-77W

35-84W

65W

35-91W

35-91W

35-95W

TBA

Thunderbolt

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Platform

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Desktop LGA

Launch

2011

2012

2013-2014

2015

2015

2017

2017

2018

Intel Cannonlake CPUs For Desktop Platform Could Be First Mainstream Chips To Feature Up To 6 Cores

If the Cannonlake CPUs are indeed based on 14nm for desktop platforms than Intel might take another route to woo their customers. Since this would be the fourth 14nm family for desktop platforms, Intel can update the total core count to 6 on mainstream desktop PCs. It is already known from roadmap leaks that Intel would be upping the core count for Coffee Lake-H platforms to 6 so it doesn’t make sense not to do the same with the desktop platforms.

More details for the entire Intel CPU family roadmap can be seen here. It will be interesting to see how Intel handles the desktop launch of Cannonlake / Coffee Lake chips in late 2017. For all we know, the 300-series boards sound like a good deal for mainstream users who aren’t interested in the upcoming 200-series boards. For now, we are waiting for the launch of Kaby Lake and 200-series motherboards in January 2017.